... 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...

... Exams Exams Exams ...

Exams start on Monday and I seem kindaf stressed now. Ha, stressful in SEP. Last thing to expect? Wth..

Anyway, we were at the West Coast last weekends, and yes, we took many many photos, and there were stories to tell, like some cock story about how blur I was. But I'm not in the mood to post them up on blog or multiply these couple of days (Sorry to bin who tagged me with that game thing. Guess I won't be onto it anytime soon.). Will try to get them up after Wed, when I'm done with the 2 fluids modules. It's really 先苦后甜 this time round for me. The papers in the week after next would be less stressful.

The end is near... Endure...

12 Days to end of exams
25 Days to Flight back
The End is near

... End of Lectures ...

Yea people, finally it's here. My lectures for this semester has finally ended today. It's the last day. The 3 NUS-SEP students went photo taking around the school this morning and yea, had some fun and crap stuff, like we always do. Ha. Then, we went to International Antarctic Centre to have a look in the afternoon, but I'm not writing on that today. Some other day perhaps, tired and lazy. Ha, hopefully I'll get it up soon.

Anyway, we'll be off to take the TranzAlpine Railway Ride tomorrow to Greymouth, and taking a hike on the glaciers at Franz Josef on Sunday. I seriously hope the weather will be good, and let us enjoy ourselves before the EXAMS come...

Yea, the exams are coming, and my first paper is the level 4 module, Applied Fluid Mechanics. Hai...

I'll be back with photos to share... Wahahaha....

... It's Winter ...

Woke up later than usual on this lazy Saturday. The whole street was foggy and cold. I went back to school to print some stuff at 10am, and you can still see vapour coming out of you as you exhale. It's a sign, winter is here.

@ 9am

@ 10am

It's now 11pm, and it feels like 2 deg out there, cos I just came back from a friends 21st birthday party. It's cold, and they were saying it might snow tonight. Ha, but I think probably in the mountains only la. Ha. Anyway, they said it is Kiwi culture to down 3 litres of beer to celebrate your adulthood, but my friend was let off with just half the amount. But still, it was alot. Ha, just look at his face after he bottomed... Boh Da boh XXX... Ha...

See his 'I wanna puke face'?

Bday boy on the extreme Right

... Why am I not driving a STi? ...

I was walking around Westfield Riccarton this afternoon looking out for a gift to a friend who has invited me over to his 21st birthday celebration tomorrow night, then I saw a Legacy on display, with the price list of all the Subarus on its dashboard...

And it's really dirt cheap owning a car in NZ. For the price u pay to get an Altis in Singapore, you can get a freaking STi here, with excess money to zhng your car... Damn... $59,999 for a STi...

... 31 May 07 ...

Today is the last day of May. It's been a long long month. Probably it's made worse because we didn't do any travelling during the weekends in May. Time ticks slowly without play. Ha.. Anyhow, with the passing of May as the clock ticks 12am in a few hours time, I'm more or less done with the outstanding coursework for my SEP here. What's left is the last assignment of my Applied Fluid Mechanics. Sian, it's that level 4 module again. I'm so not going to take anymore fluids stuff.. Fluids sucks.

Well, this time is an assignment on the selection of a windturbine for a family in the rural area. Interesting I know. Where in the heck can you set up a windfarm in Singapore. I have seen one single windturbine in SP though. But wind energy generation is big business in NZ, especially on the South Island. A significant portion of their power is generated from their offshore windfarms. But then again, isn't this what SEP is about? To be able to do something you cannot find in Sin. Ha, frankly, though this seem to be a 'don't know can pass or not' course, I admit it's interesting. Hands-on Solar car model competition on windtunnel. I don't even know where's NUS's windtunnel lor. I only know DSO has one beside SRC. Then windturbine... Well, I just pray everything goes smoothly and I get my credits..

Next week is the last week of classes. Monday is a public holiday, to celebrate Queen E's birthday. So I have a long weekend to work on my stuff. And I'll be going to Greymouth on the TranzApline Railway ride on 9 Jun. I think it's one of the most scenic railway rides in the world. And we'll be off for a glacier hike at Franz Josef. Take a 3 days break before whacking full steam during reading week manz..

Finally, today is Vesak Day. Not around in Sin to celebrate. May Light and Wisdom be passed on.. Happy Vesak Day! Happy Queens Birthday!~ Ha!~

1 week to Reading Week
4 Weeks to end of Exams
& End of Sem Tour
I'll be home soon

... Pirates of the Carribean 3 ..

Yesterday evening, I caught this show with Veron at Riccarton after going to the Christchurch I-site to settle our stuff for our West Coast Tour from 9 -11 Jun. Good show, much better than the 2nd episode, which I was lost most of the time. At least this time, it made some sense to me. I shan't comment much on the male actors, since it is my policy not to take too much notice of shuai ge.. But Elizabeth Swann... Weet Weet!~ Need I say more? Wahahahaha.... Sorry, I can't remember who was the actress.. Pai seh.. Hahaha....

And after getting back to my room after the show, I was so damn sleepy and tired. Dunno why oso, but woke up this morning, and made some kopitiam style breakfast for myself... Wahahaa... Somebody pls dun scold me, I'll leave enough for you when you get here... Wahahaha....

Showcasing: Half-boiled Egg, Kopi & Kaya Toast!~ Weet Weet!~ Yum Yum!~

... Pizzas for lunch ...

Boring title eh? So what's up with a few slices of pizzas for lunch.. Ha, nah.. Just that my American lecturer for the Materials course is returning back home at the end of this week, so he treated us to pizzas during lecture today.. And hell, it was that many pizzas to feed the whole lecture group of 100 plus people. Imagined how many pizzas if some lecturer in NUS does that.. 3 times that amount manz... Wahahaha...

How many pizzas are there?

Then the lecturer had a little chat with some of the students on his experiences in his research career at the Naval Research Lab in the US....

... And then I saw this tag stuck on his back.... Fwahahaha.....

He's a Nerd!!! HA!!!!

Then as I was looking out of the conference room window on the 5th floor, I saw the low clouds on the mountain ranges in a distance.. I wonder, how come there isn't any high-rise apartments in this part of Christchurch. I would probably wanna live there manz. Good view. I can probably just stand at the window, looking out, and staring at the scenery. Ha, I miss living on the 7th floor..

Not too clear on my HP photo, but the picture was nice..

... Icey Dragons ...

This was supposed to be quite an old stuff, it was before my haircut. But I've only put it up now.. Anyway, the usual 3 of us were out that night having dinner with Veron's cute guy, Atsushi, and when we were waiting for our bus to get back to our hall, we did all of the following. 3 Icey Dragons.. Blowing out vapour and having hell of a time... Wahahaha...

3 Icey Dragons in action!~

Smoke Out!~

Vapour Communication?

In Front of The Central Cathedral, Christchurch
L-R: Veron, Hannah (From Germany, also met her at Dolphin's Lodge, Kaikoura), Atsushi, SAYA
[Moses was taking the photo for us.. Keke...]