Yeah, I am getting better day by day... Hopefully by the start of a new month, I will make it back to the courts and track, be it a jog, a badminton game or a tennis rally?!
Ever since my return from Europe, I have been reading quite a bit... Book after book.. For those who love reading, I strongly recommend the bOok, A Thousand Splendid Suns... The title has absolutely no link with the content of the book. The title came from a poetry in Arabic, that's all. I love how the story is being relayed and I think the contents are very much reflections of the world today. Where's the love?!
I finished yet another book today-Never let me go. When I first started on it, I felt the storyline was quite boring. It's so abstract, relating to clones and their lives. But as I dwell deeper into the story, I began to see things in a different light. Many a times in life, I told myself that everyone has the freedom and right to pursue what they want in life and if I ever come across someone who don't, I think that's because he or she is not putting in enough effort. However, I realise there may be variations to it. Everyone has unique ways of achieving what they want in life. By taking a laid-back approach doesn't mean they are not pursuing what they want in life. Are you more assertive or do you prefer to be passive?!
I am in love with books nowadays. :)
Monday, 15 September 2008
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Life's about ...... ?
Officially into my 5th week in school... When you attend school on a 3-day basis, times flies!
I am qualified enough to file for graduation this semester. However, I am hesitant about it. I have my own considerations, pressure from people "UP THERE" to constantly revise my choices.
I have no intention to whine but I need to voice my opinions on the tertiary education system:
Why do we have to be put on a bell curve?
Why can't we just live our life according to our own pace, expectations and beliefs?
Why did anyone choose to invent the term "relative"?
Why wouldn't people leave you alone and gave you the little bit of space that everyone need in their lives?
Having gone through 3 semesters in NUS, I thought I had already adapted to that "survival of the fittest" ideology. However, that short stint in Stockholm diminished my understanding of that concept somehow. Everyday when I go to school, for lectures and tutorials, the same questions and topics surround me:
"Are you doing honors?"
"Why aren't you doing it?"
"What's your CAP?"
"I bet your CAP is there."
"Do you know the answers to this tutorial?"
"Can you lend me your lecture notes?"
"Have you done your readings?"
"I am sure you can get a good grade."
"What modules are you doing?"
Why can't we talk about something else? If we weren't evaluated on a relative basis, people will not make comparisons. People will not see you as their rival. You can then build friendships that are to last through life.
Everytime when I reflect on my life in NUS, I feel pathetic. My close friends are people who are of a different major or faculty as me. There are pros-and-cons with regards to that. We do not have a conflict of interest and thus whenever we meet up, we talk about our lives, rather than just about grades and school. However, at the same time, because we are from a different major and faculty, we do not hang out that often. Eventually, I can sense our friendship eroding with the passage of time.
Of course, I have different groups of friends especially my Econs friends who have shown tremendous support, especially Pauline. We have known each other since year 1 in a Mathematics module and every semester, we take at least 3 modules together. However, physicial proximity is the biggest barrier to our friendship. Both of us stay in extreme ends of the island, me in the West and her in the Northeast, thus after classes, both of us simply split ways.
Now as I am reflecting, I realise I've simply closed myself up in school. I hang around with the same group of friends all the time and I no longer see the need to expand my social circle. But what had led to this circumstance? THE PEOPLE. As I am attending different tutorials from Pauline and my other friends, I attend tutorials by myself. I attempted to make friends but when everyone is just out to reap benefits academically, you give up.
Imagine:
1) People exchanging phone numbers and emails from you so that they can check tutorial answers with you. At the end of the day, they will tell you you don't lose out because they are sharing their answers with you too.
2) People enquiring the modules you are taking because they think at some point of time near the exams, you'll be able to help them out.
3) People asking you for your notes every single lecture to make sure they didn't miss out anything that you managed to catch hold of.
I am not referring to myself in particular. I am just pointing out what I observed in school, in lectures, in tutorials. It's not the issue about your willingness to share your notes or not. It's the competitiveness in the people around you that puts me off. Why can't we just help each other out without any strings attached? Why do you have to see everyone around you as a competitor?
Sometimes, I hate it! Someone, please do something to the education system!!!!!
I am qualified enough to file for graduation this semester. However, I am hesitant about it. I have my own considerations, pressure from people "UP THERE" to constantly revise my choices.
I have no intention to whine but I need to voice my opinions on the tertiary education system:
Why do we have to be put on a bell curve?
Why can't we just live our life according to our own pace, expectations and beliefs?
Why did anyone choose to invent the term "relative"?
Why wouldn't people leave you alone and gave you the little bit of space that everyone need in their lives?
Having gone through 3 semesters in NUS, I thought I had already adapted to that "survival of the fittest" ideology. However, that short stint in Stockholm diminished my understanding of that concept somehow. Everyday when I go to school, for lectures and tutorials, the same questions and topics surround me:
"Are you doing honors?"
"Why aren't you doing it?"
"What's your CAP?"
"I bet your CAP is there."
"Do you know the answers to this tutorial?"
"Can you lend me your lecture notes?"
"Have you done your readings?"
"I am sure you can get a good grade."
"What modules are you doing?"
Why can't we talk about something else? If we weren't evaluated on a relative basis, people will not make comparisons. People will not see you as their rival. You can then build friendships that are to last through life.
Everytime when I reflect on my life in NUS, I feel pathetic. My close friends are people who are of a different major or faculty as me. There are pros-and-cons with regards to that. We do not have a conflict of interest and thus whenever we meet up, we talk about our lives, rather than just about grades and school. However, at the same time, because we are from a different major and faculty, we do not hang out that often. Eventually, I can sense our friendship eroding with the passage of time.
Of course, I have different groups of friends especially my Econs friends who have shown tremendous support, especially Pauline. We have known each other since year 1 in a Mathematics module and every semester, we take at least 3 modules together. However, physicial proximity is the biggest barrier to our friendship. Both of us stay in extreme ends of the island, me in the West and her in the Northeast, thus after classes, both of us simply split ways.
Now as I am reflecting, I realise I've simply closed myself up in school. I hang around with the same group of friends all the time and I no longer see the need to expand my social circle. But what had led to this circumstance? THE PEOPLE. As I am attending different tutorials from Pauline and my other friends, I attend tutorials by myself. I attempted to make friends but when everyone is just out to reap benefits academically, you give up.
Imagine:
1) People exchanging phone numbers and emails from you so that they can check tutorial answers with you. At the end of the day, they will tell you you don't lose out because they are sharing their answers with you too.
2) People enquiring the modules you are taking because they think at some point of time near the exams, you'll be able to help them out.
3) People asking you for your notes every single lecture to make sure they didn't miss out anything that you managed to catch hold of.
I am not referring to myself in particular. I am just pointing out what I observed in school, in lectures, in tutorials. It's not the issue about your willingness to share your notes or not. It's the competitiveness in the people around you that puts me off. Why can't we just help each other out without any strings attached? Why do you have to see everyone around you as a competitor?
Sometimes, I hate it! Someone, please do something to the education system!!!!!
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Bestow!
Bestow my DAD the Hand of GOD.
To cure my "ILLNESS".
Illness OF?
-Challenged Movement-
Free me from stagnation and
Unbound me from the state of torpidity.
I need to GET BOUNCING and HOPPING in the twinkle of an EYE!
"It antagonizes me when I can only watch Federer claim the US Open Trophy with his magical tennis skills and not get into the game myself."
To cure my "ILLNESS".
Illness OF?
-Challenged Movement-
Free me from stagnation and
Unbound me from the state of torpidity.
I need to GET BOUNCING and HOPPING in the twinkle of an EYE!
"It antagonizes me when I can only watch Federer claim the US Open Trophy with his magical tennis skills and not get into the game myself."
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Breakfree
As the Sun Sheds light on the Bigger World out there,
I can't resist the Temptation to Break-Free from everything.
The desire to put an end to all that has been bothering all these years,
All the hassles of life.All the troubles.All the unhappiness that has accumulated in ME.
I need to a BREAK.
A Breakthrough in LIFE?
I need a TIME MACHINE.
ME--To be placed where I am supposed to BELONG.
I can't resist the Temptation to Break-Free from everything.
The desire to put an end to all that has been bothering all these years,
All the hassles of life.All the troubles.All the unhappiness that has accumulated in ME.
I need to a BREAK.
A Breakthrough in LIFE?
I need a TIME MACHINE.
ME--To be placed where I am supposed to BELONG.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
HIS WAY
Indeed, God has a unique way of creating more time for me.
Call it a blessing in disguise? I don't think so!
I actually injured my foot.
Now,
NO TENNIS!
NO BADMINTON!
NO JOGGING!
Sob Sob... Imagine me... Someone who's always on the RUN for more action, for more sports, more fun sitting at home the whole day..... Perhaps, my feet needs a break from all the hectic schedules and exercise after all.
Call it a blessing in disguise? I don't think so!
I actually injured my foot.
Now,
NO TENNIS!
NO BADMINTON!
NO JOGGING!
Sob Sob... Imagine me... Someone who's always on the RUN for more action, for more sports, more fun sitting at home the whole day..... Perhaps, my feet needs a break from all the hectic schedules and exercise after all.
Monday, 1 September 2008
WorkLoad!
Freaking Workload I've in Singapore:
5 Essays Due.
Assignments.
Tutorials.
Tennis.
Badminton.
Jog.
KTV.
Tuitions.
So many on my to-do-list but so little time.
God, I need more TIME!
How I wish I was in Stockholm... all my TIME to TRAVELLING!!
5 Essays Due.
Assignments.
Tutorials.
Tennis.
Badminton.
Jog.
KTV.
Tuitions.
So many on my to-do-list but so little time.
God, I need more TIME!
How I wish I was in Stockholm... all my TIME to TRAVELLING!!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Barcelona day 1-17 June 2008
I arrived at Barcelona Girona airport at around 2310. Before I go into my arrival at Barcelona, I must talk about 2 interesting Australian guys that I met on the way.
The first was one I met at the hostel and we both happened to be travelling to Barcelona so we went to the airport together. For me, I never arrive 2 hours before the flight time because there's always a long queue and you have a long wait till 20 minutes before the flight time to board the plane. Usually, I just take my own sweet time and get there at probably around an hour earlier. But the Aussie guy was a bit paranoid and he was quite insistent that we go slightly early. So I went along with him. The bus to the airport was late and he was a bit anxious about the whole thing. He kept looking at his watch but I was just so chilled about the whole thing.. I think it's the Scandinavian culture cannibalising on me...haha.. LAID-BACK... But it was nice meeting him.. We crapped quite a bit yet at the same time talked about some serious stuff about life and destiny.. I like this new word that I learnt in Morocco- "Ein-Shala" which means in the will of GOD! :) After we reached the airport, we parted ways. Him to the city centre while me at the airport to spend the night...
Surprisingly, while I was queuing to buy some food, I met the 2nd Australian guy. He studies design in Eindhoven (Holland) and had came from Marrakesh like I do. Barcelona was his transition airport back to the Netherlands.. This guy is more chilled and so we chatted through the NIGHT at the airport. Guess what? We drank a bottle of champagne and red wine. God... He left the airport at 5 for his plane and I sat till there till 830 to catch my bus to the city centre.. I was so tired and slept throughout the 1.5hours bus journey...
The buildings are just amazing! Applaud MR Gaudi!
This guy was distributing pamphlets for a musical. When he saw my pose, he imitated me.
The moment I arrive in my hostel in Barcelona, 2 people mark my day. First, when I switched on my phone, I received a SMS from Pigsy ang! hahahaa... THANKS PIGSY ANG!! When you travel by yourself for a long time with no friends around you, you feel lonely and receiving a SMS from someone that cares for you genuinely marks your day. I was seriously very very touched when I saw his message. :) Second, my room-mate was there waiting for me. We had arranged to meet up in Barcelona and tour the place together. So we spend the day doing some sight-seeing. It's good to have someone to share with you your trips, experiences, the people you met etc.. Despite not having slept for the night, I still felt energetic to walk around, explore the city etc. We headed to the Gaudi area and the Cathedral.
Port Vell!
Look at the fishes. Now you know how clear the water is. Near to the Mediterranean Sea !
The "Moving" Bridge I call it. haha.. Apparently, this bridge will start to "Disconnect" when ships need to pass and dock at the harbour. The guy in the photo is on duty to set the bridge disconnecting from time to time. There are two of them at each end of the bridge. "What a simple job he has!" I thought to myself!
Catch the bridge moving in action.
When the bridge is connected, pedestrians swarm through it.
Just one of spastic shots by me! haha...
The BEACH ! One building in the far end is actually a casino. I can't remember what's the other.
I love settings like this. Simple and peaceful enough.
I honestly wonder how on earth those 2 people managed to make their way there. So I attempted
But this is the furthest that I could go. hahaha...
My roomie is not a shopaholic but I am quite a bit. So I headed for SHOPPING! I found one really nice Spanish designer brand- Desigual. The stuff there is really unique. I bet you won't catch anyone wearing the same stuff as you because everything seems to only be manufactured in a lone piece. However, the prices are a bit steep and I figured out that for the sake of my LV, I should just compromise with my shopping for other items. When I came back to Singapore, I saw the shop at Vivo City. So now, I feel consoled. I can just head down to Vivo and see if they have what I wanted. SMILE! :)
Always attempting something different.
The fishy structure. See the glass building behind? It's the casino! I wonder if the fishy structure signifies "NIAN NIAN YOU YU" for the Spanish! So they earn BIG BUCKS from the Casino biz.
Yet another of the weird and funny structures by the beach. 
The area to go to- Barceloneta (The Beach?)
Some real-life soccer tricks in action! I wonder why he doesn't go PRO ?
After all the shopping, time to head back to the hostel to watch the France Vs Italy game and to my GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT, France is out of the Competition.. It was a pretty bad game....
Had to settle down for the night pretty early since I need to catch some sleep badly.... :)
The first was one I met at the hostel and we both happened to be travelling to Barcelona so we went to the airport together. For me, I never arrive 2 hours before the flight time because there's always a long queue and you have a long wait till 20 minutes before the flight time to board the plane. Usually, I just take my own sweet time and get there at probably around an hour earlier. But the Aussie guy was a bit paranoid and he was quite insistent that we go slightly early. So I went along with him. The bus to the airport was late and he was a bit anxious about the whole thing. He kept looking at his watch but I was just so chilled about the whole thing.. I think it's the Scandinavian culture cannibalising on me...haha.. LAID-BACK... But it was nice meeting him.. We crapped quite a bit yet at the same time talked about some serious stuff about life and destiny.. I like this new word that I learnt in Morocco- "Ein-Shala" which means in the will of GOD! :) After we reached the airport, we parted ways. Him to the city centre while me at the airport to spend the night...
Surprisingly, while I was queuing to buy some food, I met the 2nd Australian guy. He studies design in Eindhoven (Holland) and had came from Marrakesh like I do. Barcelona was his transition airport back to the Netherlands.. This guy is more chilled and so we chatted through the NIGHT at the airport. Guess what? We drank a bottle of champagne and red wine. God... He left the airport at 5 for his plane and I sat till there till 830 to catch my bus to the city centre.. I was so tired and slept throughout the 1.5hours bus journey...
The first sight of Barcelona :)
The buildings are just amazing! Applaud MR Gaudi!
This guy was distributing pamphlets for a musical. When he saw my pose, he imitated me.
The moment I arrive in my hostel in Barcelona, 2 people mark my day. First, when I switched on my phone, I received a SMS from Pigsy ang! hahahaa... THANKS PIGSY ANG!! When you travel by yourself for a long time with no friends around you, you feel lonely and receiving a SMS from someone that cares for you genuinely marks your day. I was seriously very very touched when I saw his message. :) Second, my room-mate was there waiting for me. We had arranged to meet up in Barcelona and tour the place together. So we spend the day doing some sight-seeing. It's good to have someone to share with you your trips, experiences, the people you met etc.. Despite not having slept for the night, I still felt energetic to walk around, explore the city etc. We headed to the Gaudi area and the Cathedral.
Narrow Streets of Barcelona..
The Cathedral that is under maintenance. (P/S: Chris, Remember the jigsaw we saw at IMM and I told you it looks familiar? It's actually the Cathedral in Barcelona! ) .. Now WE Know.. 
Famous Wet Market in
I honestly wonder who will buy all these stuff??!!
Down La Rambla...
As we approach the beach...
Torre de Jaume I
Half Symbol of Singapore - LION!
Also, the beach was on our agenda and just lying on the beach feels great!!! It started to rain a bit in the afternoon so everyone cleared the beach and I commented that it was God's welcome gift for me... When it rains, it really dampens your spirit. You can't walk around as leisurely as you like it to be. You have to constantly search for shelter etc. But anyway, we covered quite a few places and finally, SOMEONE to take photos for ME! hahaa... We had Paella for dinner. It wasn't that good but we were so full from it... haha... At around 5 plus or so, we parted ways because she had to prepare to fly to London and me continuing my journey in Barcelona...
Famous Wet Market in
I honestly wonder who will buy all these stuff??!!
Down La Rambla...
As we approach the beach...
Torre de Jaume I
Half Symbol of Singapore - LION!
The beach area...
Port Vell!
Look at the fishes. Now you know how clear the water is. Near to the Mediterranean Sea !
The "Moving" Bridge I call it. haha.. Apparently, this bridge will start to "Disconnect" when ships need to pass and dock at the harbour. The guy in the photo is on duty to set the bridge disconnecting from time to time. There are two of them at each end of the bridge. "What a simple job he has!" I thought to myself!
Catch the bridge moving in action.When the bridge is connected, pedestrians swarm through it.
Just one of spastic shots by me! haha...
The BEACH ! One building in the far end is actually a casino. I can't remember what's the other.
I love settings like this. Simple and peaceful enough.
I honestly wonder how on earth those 2 people managed to make their way there. So I attempted
But this is the furthest that I could go. hahaha...
My roomie is not a shopaholic but I am quite a bit. So I headed for SHOPPING! I found one really nice Spanish designer brand- Desigual. The stuff there is really unique. I bet you won't catch anyone wearing the same stuff as you because everything seems to only be manufactured in a lone piece. However, the prices are a bit steep and I figured out that for the sake of my LV, I should just compromise with my shopping for other items. When I came back to Singapore, I saw the shop at Vivo City. So now, I feel consoled. I can just head down to Vivo and see if they have what I wanted. SMILE! :)
Yet another of the Spastic shots.
Always attempting something different.
The fishy structure. See the glass building behind? It's the casino! I wonder if the fishy structure signifies "NIAN NIAN YOU YU" for the Spanish! So they earn BIG BUCKS from the Casino biz.
Yet another of the weird and funny structures by the beach. 
The area to go to- Barceloneta (The Beach?)
Some real-life soccer tricks in action! I wonder why he doesn't go PRO ?
After all the shopping, time to head back to the hostel to watch the France Vs Italy game and to my GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT, France is out of the Competition.. It was a pretty bad game....
Had to settle down for the night pretty early since I need to catch some sleep badly.... :)
Morocco-Marrakesh day 5-16 June 2008
Yup, I am leaving Marrakesh in another 3 hours. Where am I heading to?
I Barca I Barca! Yes, that´s Barcelona. I headed to the new town of Marrakesh this afternoon and indeed, it was completely different from the Old Town. No more harrassment, just high-end shopping places. Gosh, KFC is a restaurant in Morocco. hahaha...
Once you go pass these walls, sad to say, you'll be back to reality, back to the Medina.
Basically, I just kept blogging the whole day and spent only a few hours out. I have completely used up all the Dirhams that I´ve got with me but those kids just won´t let me off. I showed them my penniless wallet and they asked me to give them my EURO coins!
I was chatting with my sister and I told her I felt like going home already. i don´t know why but as my return date draws nearer, I feel I am starting to miss home. I didn´t have this feeling when I was in Stockholm.. I guess it´s a great thing afterall... I am looking forward to my return in 12 days!
I caught the sunset on the plane. Honestly, it's amazing. But I don't get the chance on the time. It depends whether I picked the correct side to take and if I was dozing off on the plane. haha...
Barcelona, here I come!
I Barca I Barca! Yes, that´s Barcelona. I headed to the new town of Marrakesh this afternoon and indeed, it was completely different from the Old Town. No more harrassment, just high-end shopping places. Gosh, KFC is a restaurant in Morocco. hahaha...
Marrakech New-Town! Zara!
Once you go pass these walls, sad to say, you'll be back to reality, back to the Medina.
Basically, I just kept blogging the whole day and spent only a few hours out. I have completely used up all the Dirhams that I´ve got with me but those kids just won´t let me off. I showed them my penniless wallet and they asked me to give them my EURO coins!
I was chatting with my sister and I told her I felt like going home already. i don´t know why but as my return date draws nearer, I feel I am starting to miss home. I didn´t have this feeling when I was in Stockholm.. I guess it´s a great thing afterall... I am looking forward to my return in 12 days!
I caught the sunset on the plane. Honestly, it's amazing. But I don't get the chance on the time. It depends whether I picked the correct side to take and if I was dozing off on the plane. haha...
Barcelona, here I come!