Menu A or Menu B?

This trip is fantastic, can never be any better. All thanks to Ban and Arbott, for such good presidential treatment.

I have the chance to do some reflection again, this time it seems so much more meaningful and real to me....

I was given Menu A and Menu B for the choice of dinner, and a free choice of dessert. The choice of dessert is my favourite Tiramisu with Brownies and tje other option was Baked Pumkim with Apple crumbs.

Tiramisu and Brownies is like my favourite dessert servings, and I really wanted to try them over here in NZ, but a strong sense of feeling is telling me to try the alternative. Something that I have never tried b4 nor did I even have the confidence of.

I told myself that everything is worth a try, so I choose baked Pumkin. And after trying it, I'm sure that I'm definitely not going to regret my decision. It was absoultey brilliant and it tasted so GOOD. I knew that the risk that I took to try something new was well rewarded.

To draw in to relation in life, there are often scenerios that we are always comfortable with something that we have allwaiz been used to, be it hanging out with friends in big parties, or choosing the same food for every meal or having the same postions in sex(;p), blah blah blah....

But to make one step that is different from the one that you will always take is so hard...and yet, eventually finding the results is better than expectations, then it is truly well worth all the effort, dun you agree?

When was it the last time that you tired something new and regretted it? and when was it that you ever allowed yourself to be different? And I can assure you that, any difference that u made will definitely have a +ve impact in your life, bcoz u will learn from mistakes and u will allwaiz remb the good ones. :)

Back on Thursday

Didn't have much chance and time to post my blog, as I'm currently away in Queenstown while skipping one week of school and my french test. But I must say it is really worth it, and i'm currently enjoy every single second of it. hahaha, more will be posted when I'm back in Dunedine.

And yesh...i made it to queenstwon without being lost along teh way with my car ALONE. hahaha, felt an accomplishment. And NO, i didn't fell asleep along the way, coz the scenery is too nice to sleep on. Awww....I want to become a NZ citizen...someone please help me to....

My first time....again

Had lotsa first time in NZ man. Anyway, tomorrow I will be embarking on a never planned trip to Queenstown. I actually planned to do some white water kayaking with the OUCC, but Ban(my laos travelling buddy) called me and ask me to accompany him in an expenses all paid for trip in queenstown. An offer too hard to resist, however, I was actually contemplating if I should go, because I will be skipping school till next thurs. ie, i will have to forgo my lab and my french listening test. Lotsa opportunity cost. But I decided that I should go and do the more expensive activities first....since it is free. hahaha. But I did contemplate for a while...

Yesterday I was just thinking to myself, I find it very hard here not to submit quality work. Even assignments I hand in here are all 100%. I hate it man, argh, I want to slack but yet I can't. The feeling is horrible. I just want to pass all my courses, but is like quite tough, because I liek the courses that I'm taking, and I grew very attached to it, and right now I'm even thinking of scoring it big time. How? Can someone teach me not to study....I'm going nuts. I find it hard to be irresponsible, thats quite an irony though.

I baked rice for dinner, and it is like how good. Ok, I shan't say too much, later kester will ask me to go back and cook for him. Not that I won't cook for you guys, you guys know how lazy I'm when it comes to food, anything also can eat, and I can even dun eat. But here, hahaha, I cook diff dish everyday. If you guys name me a dish, I will cook here for you. And the best part about it is that you do not have to follow instructions, let your creativity do the job.

Damn sianz, need to do course outline because submission date is at the end of this month. Argh, so many datelines. Will only be back on thursday.

Ok, some of you have been asking me not to put a model's pic on my personal profile, for your info, it is ME, and not any model, however if you chose to think I'm one, I also will not stop you.
Alright, I shall post the before and after pic here...see if the difference is alot, I used photoshop to do the editting, so it couldn't be that great...

I dun think there is any difference leh.

Anyway, will update more when I'm back from my trip. I hope to see seal, and I hope to go diving too...hahaha.

~~~Happy Birthday Weizhong~~~

The Oath of Wine

I Lover of Wine, Student of Wine
And barely responsible citizen
Promise to believe in the Roman God of Wine - Bacchus
And all his vices
And to take part in as many wine frenzies as I can
I also promise, to never drink from plastic
From this day forth
Now drink to the Roman God of Wine - Bacchus
(To Bacchus)

I took this oath during my Wine Appreciation class last week, and I thought it is pretty meaningful. :)

Professionalism

This week I withness 2nd presentation in this university. I must say that I'm proud to be from my home university. There is alays an element of surprise, creativity and enthusiasm in almost all presentation back home.

but the presentation here are really, average or below. My tutor ask us to be critical on our ratings for the presentation, and he admitted that he is really critical, and he is giving them 7-8/10. gosh, i really dunno how to grade them man. Look at cue cards to present ALL the time, no eye contact, lotsa body movements, boring ppts, and absolutely no interesting contents.

And mind you i'm taking the 200-300level papers, which means to say it is definitely not freshmen. Even my home university freshmen standard is better than here anytime.

I think this experience really opens my perspective to things out SG. If not we always take everything as it is. I'm learning more about the student's culture here. Having said all these, I still feel that the profs here are really good and professional, though the students' professionalism beg to differ. I'm particularly impressed with the Psychology Department. Their profs are all so charismatic and their research is really outstanding. And their lectures is something that I won't want to miss. Can you imagine that they have 2 lectures on lecture days and it occupies the entire auditorium of about 300 students each time and is always full, that means nobodie zhao class. The rest of my papers so many people zhao class. So...I'm really impressed with PSYC department.

At the rate that i'm going, i dun wanna do well also cannot, because it is really a different standard. Ok, if I behave like them, then probably I can blend in really well...hahaha. Yeah, i should, but i do not want to go thruough a transition to blend into my home university when i go back for my last semester.

Anyway, I'm saying this not because I ya-ya, but it is merely a difference in expectations and perceptions. Having said all this, I'm still confident that they will be students to be reckoned with in time to come...it is only matter of time. Some will take a while, some will take a long time, and for some....much much longer time.

Day Light Saving

This is the first time I'm experiencing DST. This is pretty cool, on Sunday 3am in NZ, it was changed to 2am. With that extra hour, I felt like as if I have wings that could make me fly. With that one hour I accomplished so many more on Sunday and that mentality accumulates to Monday and till today.

Have you ever wanted an extra hour in your life? An extra hour to complete your exams. An extra hour to complete your report. An extra hour to rehearse your presentation. An extra hour for sex...(opps thats too long, doubt anyone can withstand it). An extra hour to do the things that you never have the chance of doing. An extra hour to make your life complete.

Last year, i always joke to my friends with my friends that i have 96hours in a day. This is how I derive my 96hours:

-Assuming if everyone sleeps, they probably sleep like 8-10hours in their 24hours, which give them an optimal usage of 14-16hours left. And out of the 14-16hours, they probably have 4hours of makan time, which left only 10-12hours. And probably spend 2-3hours travelling a day which gives them 8-10hours a day to study, meet friends, do projects, to shop or even to do their extra activities.

-I sleep like 3-4hours a day, makan time almost zero bcoz i either dun eat or eat while doing other stuff, or of coz get all my nice friends to da bao for me. And I usually spend like max an hour travelling including sending pple home coz i I can use so many Expressways to my home. Which technically speaking gives me 2 times more time than that of the normal human beings. Which is why i have 48hours a day.

-Then my friends will say, how come desmond have so much time to do so many things in this world, and then they will either give more work to do, and got lotsa clubs matter to settle, have more friends that I want to meet, more shopping, want to run, swim, kayak, soccer, and movies, datings(multiple...hahaha), which essentially derives 96hours for me, coz i always doing double of what normal people is doing.

Lotsa my friends think i'm crazy to do so many things, but do you know that it also runs in the family....hahaha, my mum wakes up the sleep like probably 1-2hours b4 me, coz she sings at nite(karaok) at home and wakes up like just half an hour b4 me so that she could wake me up. And she probably spend a little more time on makan bcoz u noe lah tai tai, den after work, immediately go to do her xtra activities like dancing(who up to date already finishes practically every dance that I heard of, ballroom, line-dance, salsa, cha cha, rumba, waltz, wateva...), karaok sessions, meeting friends and housework(yeah, she baos everything at home). After those, when she comes back, probably prepare supper for this prince here and heads back for more singing.

Now you guys know that I'm not the only one who is crazy, my mum is equally crazy....however having said that, never compromise the quality of your life and make sure that every second of it is worth lving for. And there is no such thing as an extra hour in your life, just make sure you make the best out of whatever time you are given to in this lifetime. ;p

Another spoilt plan....:(

Was suppose to go surfing today, but the shop wasn't open. Dammit. So ended up travelling in the Pennisular.

We were suppose to go to boulder bay but we couldn't find it, in the end we discovered many other more interesting sites. Drive 2 hours plus in the Pennisular, and drove about the an hour yesterday, I used less than half of a HALF TANK. Can you believe it....my car really can convserve heaps of petrol. Way to go man. :)

Do you ever have the urge of driving your vechile to the beach, sit on it, and enjoy the sea breeze and the sun...haha, i did, it was so kwel....

Found this lovely beach which we could drive in and the view was really marvellous, took another shot when I climbed up a small hill overlooking the sea. Isn't these gorgeous....awwww...
There was a few flats in Toroa that were broken in last night, some of them have their food in the kitchen stolen, some have their CDs in the lving room stolen. We all suspect that those bulgaries are drunkards. In any case, the incharged have already informed the police and they will have tighter security. If they come into my flat, I will make sure I catch them...

Time for a little reflection for the week...
...sometimes we can get our lives all cluttered up. It is as if all of the pressures, opinions, thoughts of others and everything else besides fills our inner world. We move around with this busy marketplace/chaos inside.

It is a real gift to have someone who can cut through all of the rubbish, and get to the heart of the matter.

Have you ever sat in a meeting and wondered to yourself, what on earth has this really got to do with what we are saying all this while? Or listened to someone on the phone and kept waiting to hear the bottom line. Getting to the heart of the matter is part of what this Lenten season can be about for all of us.

It is a time to refrain from the buying and selling of internal rubbish, and clear the temple of our inner world so that we are reminded that God is calling us to be the very best we can be. During these past few days, I have been showered by endless love by all my friends and family members, and i'm so grateful for all that. This is a real example of clearing away what doesn't matter and refraining from making our lives a marketplace. We all have such a brief moment here, may this Lent help us not to waste the fraction of a moment we have on sheer rubbish.

~~~Happy Birthday Yujian~~~

~~~Happy Birthday Mosh~~~

~~~Happy Birthday Huiting~~~

~~~Happy Birthday Alvin~~~

Larnoch Castle

Was supposed to meet at 8am to visit Invercargill today, but I only woke up at 12pm. Alex also woke up at that time. Must be we slept real late last night. So we decided to drive to the world's most southern Castle and also NZ's only Castle - Larnoch Castle.

It was about slightly less than half an hour drive from my place to the Castle. The scenery to the castle is really amazing. It is hard to take a bad picture.

(Above) Sitting in one of the sheds in the Castle's garden overseeing the Pennisular.

(Above) Standing infront of the Castle. Too bad there are too many tourists around, if not it would be a gd place to be in. The sun came out when the tourists came.

(Above) Tried to take some nice Kodak Moments on the way to the Castle....this is so good.

(Above) Always wanted to take a photo like this with my car. This is so freaking cool. The scenery is killing me.

Alex(not my flat mate, is another girl) cooked dinner for me, it is really nice. She baked bread and lamb too. Dinner was great.

Watched 2 movies, highly recommended to the everyone. It is Crash and The New guy, both are damn funny and really good.

Toroa Welcome Dinner 2006

Today we had Toroa's Welcome Dinner 2006, it is like a gathering for all the Hall residents. We were told not to wear jeans, so have to end up dressing nicely...and I'm like so freaking lazie to dress up.

We went to one of the best place to dine in Dunedin, it is at the Penisular, very nice, and seem rather exlusive. :) It draws back memory of the Proms, where you take endless photoshots, drink your life away, dancing and no progs thou.

Is how lucky that I get to meet Daryl(the guy on my left) and he is from Singapore but most importantly he is from my unit. We spend like lotsa time talking about army stuff, is like the most natural common bonding topic and guys in Singapore will have, and like my friend say, if the guys start talking about their stuff, they can go on and on and on....it will never end.

The food was not too bad, lotsa meat(both white and red), so yummy. The people are crazie party goers. The party was so wild that people started kissing, yeah, everyone around me is doing it. You know lah, those normal kind of making out before moving on the main highlight of the night, hahaha, thats what ball is suppose to be about rite? In any case, CONDOMS are widely available(and free) in Toroa, so may this nite be gd fun and enjoyment for all. :)

Elena(the girl on my left) and the rest of the Italian girls insisted that I must take a nice picture with them and then show it to all my friend to tell them how good and nice they are. So here it is, presenting to you, the ever loving Italianos...

It is also quite nice to find people from home here, I got to met some Singaporeans who are full time and they are staying in Toroa. They are so funny, they say I am not on the right kind of MENTALITY here because I'm partying so much, they dun even feel i'm a Singaporean. Then I was telling them that is useless to be cliquish with people whom you already shared some similarities with when you come for exchange, must be open and go out to meet new people. Thanks one of the best thing when I'm the only Singapore exchange student here in the world's most southern Univeristy. :)

I walked my friend home because she wasn't feeling too well because he just found out a guy who is staying in Toroa is sort of like cheating on her. She was staying on top of the hill like 5mins away from my house. The night was terribly cold and the wind is so strong that I have to lean forward and walk. Even though, I have to walk back alone in this cold cold nite, I smell and touch the wind(not that I can't do in Singapore, but the feeling is different) and enjoying the beauty of the nite city that her location have to offer, it was worth it...

There is still a post Dinner party at one of the flats, I think I'm gonna give it a go, because I do not want to punish my kidneys too much...;p

Because of grace

This is a good story forwarded to me. Hope you have the time this weekend to read through it.

-------

I am a mother of three (ages 14 , 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming! feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reachedout and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to love people and use things, not love things and use people.

To handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.
God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest

Timetable 2006 in University of Otago

Finally got myself organised. This timetable is for show, most of the time, i will create a new timetable on the day itself. :) Depending if I can wake up or if I have any other 'important' things to attend to. hahaha

In this time of Lent...

....One wonders what He wrote...

... Know why the woman didn't die?.....

every stone.. meant for her.... HE took it...
and for us as well.....
Our Saviour.. Our Friend.... Our Redeemer....

Jesus Christ....

Everytime we sin, he goes through the crucifixion all over again... Our sins fasten him there...
Can we bear to see him go thru the whole Passion again??
Think about it......

(Adapted from kpkp)

This is only the beginning...

I finally started formal study here yesterday...is 3rd week though, but it is never too late. It is so hard to listen to the lectures, the accent is sometimes too strong, even their own students dun get it...hahaha

Yesterday is also the first day of my Salsa class, had so much fun.....My friends say i'm a natural...I wish it is true man. But it is really a very sexy dance. and somehow I find the learning here better than singapore and of coz, the fees are so much cheaper.

Today had quite a fun day in school, did another Lab for Psyc...I signed up for Varsity Table Tennis competition, winners get 250$, did I mention that I used to play for my constituency. So long never play, i just hope to get top 3, at least go some sort of income, not that bad also...just pray no Chinese students will compete with me...hahaha

Then golf lessons was cancelled due to poor response, but I did go for wine appreciation lesson at nite. Learnt lotsa kwel stuff, next time when you drink wine with me, dun pray pray hor...tasted 6 bottles of wine. Most from NZ, next week we will be moving on to europe. Then on the 5th which is the last lesson, my instructor is going to bring us to his winery, how cool rite? hahaha, meanwhile, cheers to everyone, please drink to your heart contents. :)

***生日快乐 ^|nNoC3Nt^***

My flatmates organised a surprise party for me in my flat. Wanted a low key birthday to enjoyed the mother nature, but this noisy one is an experience too. Not that they really caught me by surprise but their kind gestures reallie touched my heart. Barely know them for like 1 month, and they are so so nice...

I wanted to Thank God for giving me 24 good years and for my wonderful parents and all my fantastic friends. This birthday is really wonderful and I definitely won't forget it. Why would I not forget it...???

Because...

I received 2 stalks of flowers. I only received flowers like once in my life. :) And this time I got two, both are from New Zealand, and it is really nice. They are now placed in my living room to charmed anyone who steps into the house...

Because...

Karla cooked me a wonderful dinner. Not exactly cook, she bought the chicken, the bread, the wine, only the salad was mixed. But it was nice, because of her thoughfulness, and 100% effort. And while eating dinner, we saw...

...something that I have never seen b4 in my entire life.

It is a moonrise. I saw this while having dinner at Karla's place. Isn't it a beauty. Disclaimer, photo have not been editted, real colour and real moon, not SUN. The scene is really worth dying for....

Because...

I ate 7 cakes. One Cheesecake made my Alex(my flatemate), Elena(my flatmate) brought mi chocolate cake, my Italian friends bought Vanila Strawberry cake, Abbey made banana cake, Toroa gave me a complimentary bdae cake, Karla made Tiramisu(even though she had never tried one b4) and one last one below....

Because...

The last cake was ordered by Tiann Tiann. It came with flowers, cake and some chocolate stuff, enough to give me diabeties. Thank you so much dearie, ai si ni le.

Because...

I rec'd so many SNAIL mails(thanks Vallie, Sabz, Ben Boh, Davina, Simin, Auntie Agnes, and Mum), sms, emails, msn and calls. Thank you Kester, Mark, Chau, AM, Martina, Daphne, Gloria, Guanglong, Ah Mei, Adeline, Jasmin, Deborah, Yingwen, Dawnie, Liqing, Liping, Meiwen, Bernie, Huiting, Weizhong, Ningyin, Charlene, Adeline, and the many more people that I miss out...the list goes on.

Even my boss from also send me a message, my broker from phillips send me a bdae message and NTUC too...hahaha, looks like the personal touch is getting better as the years go by. :)

Thank you all for making this day so special for me. :)

My theory of Sunday Bath

-Sunday-
Had a good run at the white water today. Though it was really freezing and weather was not as good as yesterday, I have learnt so much more. My very first time on a white water kayaking trip. Learnt Eddy Slide and how to go down rapids. The trip was an hour drive away from city, not only did i enjoyed the trill of the rapids but also the serenity of the most talked about mother nature in NZ. Kayaking on the fresh water, something that I have never tried b4. :)

Since the secondary school days, Sunday bath is like the most important time of the week for me. It is a time when I spent time in my bathroom, thinking of what I have done for the past week and use the remaining to think about what I want to accomplish or set out to do in the following week. It is like a 'recharge' time, where I will motivate and psyche myself to the coming week. This week have been a very fruitful week, and next week will be even more exciting becauses all my courses will come together.

This one month in NZ have been very much worth it, other than to much of my dismay, i have not travel out of dunedin yet, but i'm sure i will be doing this right after easter. On the other hand, I never expected myself to try so many outdoor sports here, it is like a dream come true for any extremists...you get to do everything, new things and all are at VERY affordable prices.

Karla asked me to walk home with her after mass in the evening because she was scared of dark, and apparently the sun set at 9pm and after mass it is only 8pm. But anyway, i sense something is wrong. My flatmates suddenly cancelled the flat dinner which was suppose to be on all sundays without even telling me. Hmm....and when I finally got back, from the outside, all lights were off, this won't be the case, someone will sure on the lights somewhere...I knew it.

And when I entered the hall....SURPRISE!!!! My flatmates and karla organised a bdae party for me, and lotsa my friends were there, even my mentor was there(how the hell did he know abt it). The whole house was decorated with streamers and balloons, there are like deco even outside my room...this is so funky, i dunno if this is the normal HALL kinda life or is it the ang mohs kinda of way to party...

Will post the pics in the next update. :)

One step at a time...

Last week, I was torn as to which club should I sign up for(because the membership fee for joining either club is quite high), and both clubs have activities on every weekend. So obviously I want to be able to make the best out of my membership fees. You MUST be a member in order to participate in any of their activities. So a decision need to be made...

And I was really weighing the pros and cons for each activities, and realistically weighing which will best serve my NEEDs. In the end I choose OUCC(Otago University Canoeing Club).

Went for their first activity today, some intro to canoeing at one of their protected penisular. I joined the beginner's group(they assume everyone has no canoeing background). I learned the normal strokes and they had to correct my stroke, telling me why is it wrong. Different school of taught lah. But at the end, they say I'm a fast learner because I can execute all the strokes. Damn, really a mistake that I never borrow a wetsuit, the water was like ice water. And they actually made us perform Eskimo Bow Rescus. Oh my god, I was trying to hide, in hope that the time run up and I will not have to do. :) Then their president who saw me in the pool yesterday said I know Eskimo Roll, so he asked me to do one, and I bo bian have to do. The people are like shocked that I can do roll. I think they will be even more shock to see all the D2d people who will be able to do roll. But their roll really fool proof, I must strive to be like them. :)

We did some basic skills on the rushing water under the bridge, pretty cool, can do lotsa fun stuff. Then after lunch, we head down to the St. Kilda's Beach. The very first sight of it, was the waves, is so so big. Saw the surfers are having a good time surfing....

Then the president(Rodger) ask all the Freshies to watch them play, because it is too dangerous and they will end up bailing out instead. I ask Rodger to let me have a go, and he allowed. :) The condition is the same or even more wild than Ramaunia where I did my 4 star. The only problem I have is the tempreature. Is so cold, and I have limited clothings, even though I'm wearing a tshirt and a long sleeves. But I went on instead...

I think the freshies are thinking what the hell is this guy thinking man... Then went I moved out, I immediately execute a Pongo Surf...They were like this guy is lucky. Then I went to play with the waves, and can't catch any of the surf. Then when I was about to call it a day, I caught 4 big waves, I surfed on it. I only caught one when I was in Ramunia, and I caught 4 today....endless surfing man. And then I came up, the freshies was of coz stuntED. ;p

Yeah, and i strongly believe in perfecting(or at least be proficient in it) your skills before moving onto the next level. I really learnt so much, and I can't thank my 4 star course more than I would because the satisfaction that I got from the surf today marks the best part of my NZ time here.

I'm really happy that I joined OUCC, I will be moving on into river tml, wish me luck man, they say the trip in the easter will be the one where we head down the waterfall. Chance of a lifetime man, tell me how many people in Singapore who know how to kayak went down a waterfall. 9-12meters depends on tide. I didn't expect that a sudden burst of kayaking passion in JC lead me to take organise big expeditions, go for 3 & 4 star course, surfing with the big waves and going down a waterfall. OMG, this can't be true man...but it is really sweet eh.

I really dunno how to describe my feelings, is like a dream come true here in NZ. Totally enjoying every single moment, though I must admit that I truly miss all my friends, I miss my club's activities, hectic school life, going to church, meeting people for supper, chilling out, watch soccer matches, soccer in church, eating my mum's cooking, and so many more, but NZ is really compensating it big time.

The weather have been a blessing today, sunny whole day, thats what it should be for everyday. :)

There is always time for something

Went to shop around for wetsuit after lessons but the designs are sucky and it is quite exorbitant. Was shopping in the rain. The rain came and left about 5 to 6 times. I hate this unpredictable weather...argh. Is like I have to bring my windbreaker out on a sunny day, bcoz you may not know when is going to rain....everybody does that too.

When I came back, I discovered my 2nd mail. :) Is from my MUM. A birthday card. It takes about 10days to deliver here from Singapore. Thank you so much mum. *muacks*


I was trying to rush my work in the evening the whole day, and I was facing the window, then I suddenly sit back and enjoy the scenery after the rain, I saw some sunlight coming out from the holes of the clouds and shinning into a small area on the mountain. The view is mesmerizing. Is just like the whole mountain look so gloomy and there is this patch of sunshine over the ridge line of the mountain, I was too engross in appreciating the beauty of it and did not really want to capture this down in my camera.

After 5mins, the rainbow appears right abvoe the mountain. This 10mins of appreciation mother nature is definitely worth dying for. It is totally awesome. In life, we are often too busy to take some time off our busy schedule to relax and chill. Everybody needs some break sometimes. And what other better way is it then to stop what your are doing, look at the sky, enjoy the sunshine and face the wind and take a deep breadth of the air around you.

~~~Happy 21st Birthday Tiann~~~

Lotsa first time today....

Today had another long day. Lectures are so boring, I'm really intending to skip all of them soon. Time should be spent to do more fun stuff. Opps, my mum is reading this, I can't let her see...hahaha

It was sunny the whole day, so I would call it a good day. Yesterday was freezing cold. After the walk, both my hands and legs are numb. I went under the hot shower to defroze it. After it was defroze, my palms and soles are flushed red, as if the blood can finally circulate again, what a scene.

I started on my ballroom dance today. It was very fun. I'm quite a slow learner, but I'm already aspire to be a great ballroom dancer, is such a graceful dance. I just need more practice to perfect it.

I also cooked Hainanese Chicken Rice today. It was so good....take a look....

I cooked it for VJ who went to Singapore for exchange last year. And he helped me to find toroa, and so to fulfill his crazed, and another first time attempt to cook something wonderful, YET AGAIN.

I'm having white water canoeing this weekend and salsa and wine appreciation start next week, so many things happening so soon.....and I am starting to miss Dunedin, New Zealand....

A pleasant surprise!!!

Started the day with Psychology Lab lesson. Today we learn about the effect of caffeine on our reaction time. And at the end we are required to do a lab report. It has been like almost a decade since I went into a Lab. But the process is so fun. I truly enjoyed myself in the lab, and I think I really learn alot.....SMU doesn't even offer Lab for Psychology lesson.

Wednesday is my longest day in school, 9-5pm. I attended the briefing for kayaking this weekend. It was quite cool, the whole meeting thing took less than 15mins, no time waste, I'm quite impress with their efficiency, and everyone is on time, and dats good. You won't believe how much I'm gonna pay for the trip, is 15-20NZ$. That's how cheap, like 10times cheaper compared to M'sia.

When I got back home, I saw a note for me to go to the office to collect a mail from them. And I thought is a mail from my mine which was sent out at the end of Feb and it finally arrived. However, to my surprise, is a prezzie, an earlie prezzie for my Bdae from my dearest Val. I got my bdae present on her bdae, how cliche can that be? Anyway, thank you so much dearie. I'm like how happy when I finally saw some mail for me, and is a parcel. Ai si ni le. And I like the contents so much, and I'm sure one of the person that I will see in Heaven is you, and that is if I go to heaven.

Had to rush for my glowworm trek at 7pm. Had a good long walk before we end up in trekking in the dark. Everybody has a light, and I forgot to bring one. Have to walk in the dark. It was so muddy and slippery. I wore sandles, which make movement even worst. We were later spilt into two groups, one which will go to the glow worm caves and the other which is my group will head up to the water fall. I swear is so freaking stupid to be trekking in Jeans, shirt, and my nice sweater. They did not even tell us to be prepared to WET n DIRTY. Luckily, i'm somehow or another, I manage to avoid any falls and mud which is a good thing. The final destination proved to be worth it. With a nice waterfall just before my eyes, you can see the whole rock wall filled with glow worms. The place around the waterfall is pitch dark, and we can see the glowworms glowing, and my friend was telling me that is one place he will bring his gf to, so romantic. But it is really really very nice. Is definitely worth the walk.

When I reached home, I discovered this small like fellow named GLOWY followed me home. How cute right...

I was having deep thoughts today...
Have you guys ever been in a situation that you really really want to do something but cannot find someone to do with you, and thus you decided to give it a miss. When I have been in that situation for like countless of times and now I'm again met with this problem. You see, when you do things yourself, you may end up being lonely, but if you do it alone, you get to know more people. U noe, the normal pros n cons, but being an asian, you know they dun really make effort to get to know you...so you will get reallie lonely.

But in the end, heck it. I just went ahead to sign up for everything ALONE. Dun wanna to wait for people to 'think about it', 'sleep on it', 'see first', 'maybe', etc.... Personally, I think we should all learn to be decisivie and learn how to manage your time well. So stupid to keep thinking and not doing. You actually spend more time thinking than actually doing, how sad can that be? I strongly feel that if you really really want to do something, never let anything stop you from doing it, you gotta hype yourself to do it. The first step is always the hardest to make, but I'm very sure, after everything, the experiences is definitely worth it. I hope you guys can do whatever you want...n live life to the max....

~~~Happy Hatchday Vallie~~~

I told you it was innate....

Today, I'm supposed to cook for my flat and I invited Karla along since I'm gonna cook some food which is supposed to be Singaporean flavour. Dinner is to be served at 7pm, and I started preparing at 5pm.

Basically I cooked 3 dishes...

Dish number 1....

Dish number 2....


Dish number 3....

I have never in my entire life cooked any of the above. And I just received instructions from my mum on how to cook via MSN and using some creativity. Thank you MUM. Tiann taught me how to cook Zuchini, but I added more stuff...thanks dearie.

And of coz, I "borrow" sweetcorn from Kevin, and chicken wing from Alex.

Everyone was praising the food, and everyone was busy eating, no one talk, so I presumed the food is really good. Want to thank my Mum for guiding me... Mum, I told you right, I'm born a chef, dun have to practice, my First Time always make Perfect....;p

This is the dinner picture. From L to R: Me, Karla, Elena, Laurie, Kevin and Alex.


After dinner, had a game of poker. Won quite alot. Too bad no $$$ is involved. If not, I will be winning thousands. :)

Went for a run yesterday(my first run in NZ). I felt as if I'm running in a refrigerator. And the best part is i'm running in my shorts....*shivers* The air is so thin, it made it so hard for breathing, plus I'm having a flu now...but I safely ended up on a hill which is like just behind my flat, which I think is quite an achievement. The view is so nice...and the air is obviously fresh, but too thin for my liking.

Saw Wedding Crashers yesterday, for the 3rd time since December. I never seem to get bored of that show. I find it rather meaningful(only the last part). If you really want something so much, you should do all you can to achieve it. Even if you fail, at least you tried. Especially to all the lovers outside, time wait no one, if you really like him/her, for god sake, confess to them. Who knows, someone that actually hates you to the core may end up being your wife. Anyway, I found this tool a couple of months ago and I thought is quite accurate, in terms of the fore-telling. At least I put my ex-crushes in and I got the results that was expected. Give it a try...CLICK HERE. For more accurate answer, please put in First name(surname) and last name(your name).

Things that I planned to signed up this week...
-Horse Riding course
-Golf Course
-White water kayaking
-Kitesurfing
-Cave Kayaking
-Cave Diving
-Surfing

I hope to accomplish all the above before easter(including, my wine appreciation, ballroom dance and salsa). And I will start to plan my after easter stuff soon, hopefully can include some small getaway to nearby cities.

You know my friends actually have 2 blogs? Why the hell do they need 2 blogs man? One for personal life and the other for external? Is so funny. The reader really have to be a fan of that person to patiently reads two blog which belongs to the same person...poor thing. Anyway, one should only be online when they have excess time at night or something like that. I do not expect you to read my blog frequently, because I believe all my friends do have a life. You can do so many things in the day, live your life to the fullest man, make every minute worth living for. Dun waste your time on surfing or chatting away. Of coz unless you have to, ie, if your chatting with desmond of coz....

Anyone know this riddle...
When is a car not a car???

Bad start for the weekend

Woke up late for my rolling session, and the weather was so bad, so I decided to drive to the pool. I can't start the car because the weather was so cold. After trying for 15mins i gave up. Damn, I missed my first kayaking session thanks to the stupid weather.

The weather was so bad the whole morning, showers are coming on and off. So when I see the pocket of light, I quickly hurried to school, so I will not be caught in the rain. It even hailed just before I left the house. Tell me about the weather man...

Psychology lesson is very interesting, learn some stuff about reproduction(never really take bio b4, so is something new). Then I rushed back after my lessons to and got my neighbour(a master student who is a car mechanic) to help repair my car. We just pushed my car down the hill, and then it got started. We headed to the workshop change the batteries and the starter. It is like so cool now. I adjusted the clutch and I did some minor adjustment, now the car is fit for driving. Will take my car for a spin this weekend, alright....

Do you know???
This story goes out to all tiramisu lover out there(including myself)...

"There is this story regarding tiramisu dates back before the first world war. It is said that during the Renaissance periods, Venetian women made these to be shared with their men during the late hours because they believed it would give them the energy to make more vigorous love later."

Some kinda viagra eh. But I'm positively sure that it did not stimulate me in anyway. I'm a great lover to begin with, less the vigorous part eh. :)

Learnt it from one of my italian friends. You learn something everyday eh...dunch ya???

~~~Happy Birthday Sabz~~~

Ash Wednesday

Suppose to wake up at 6.30am but in the end went back to sleep again. Karla woke me up in the end at 7.30am. The mass is "supposed" to be at 7.30am. The church didn't tell us the time of the mass, so we guessed that it is at 7.30am. When we reached there at 7.45am, the priest told us is 9am. I asked him how are we suppose to know what time is the mass, then he say the people here all know. I checked all the notice board and they never write down the timing of the masses...this is so "funnie". Anyway I went back to eat breakfast b4 attending mass.

Slept for only 3 hours, I dun really have much strength to concentrate in class. Anyway, today I got some time to clean and polish my babie. Take a look at my new Babie...

Isn't it adorable? I just love it so so much. 1985 Honda Shuttle, bought it @ NZ$500. NZ$30 to full tank. I'm the 4th Owner. Not bad eh???

Had a Flat potluck today. Every flat suppose to cook something. My flat people are really very individualistic. They all want to cook something on their own, instead of cooking something as a flat. And there is this aussie girl who was like you guys better make sumting for the potluck...so irritating. Anyway, I did a Cheese Egg, quite nice. Just doing something with all the resources that I have.

You know what I hate about potluck, almost everyone cook vegetables and pasta because it is the cheapest. I hate it when there is like practically no meat. And lotsa time my flat mate cook things for me, are all veggie meals....suckz...