24 July 07
Convocation Ceremony

Photo taking in convocation gown consists of a four part series for me.
Part 1 on 12 June 07: Buying of gown and heading back to NTU to take with sign board
Part 2 on 9 July 07: Proper attire in NTU to take with sign board (again) and ADM (Art Design Media school)
Part 3 and 4 on 24 July 07: Actual convocation ceremony using two cameras, reason being that my batt died on me.

Part 1 on 12 June 07
Purchase gown and head back to NTU

Thanks to Jackie, we managed to get to the wu lu gown place to either purchase or rent it. I purchased mine, reason being that I could take with my other friends when they graduate next time, saves the hassle of going back to that place to return, and not much of a price difference. After that we head back to NTU to find kaka and while on the way out, we decided to stop by at the NTU signboard to take some convo pics since we had our gown with us.

With us in that kind of outfit, it had created quite a scene with people staring out from bus 199 -_-""" So you could imagine us trying to hide our faces whenever we heard buses coming, and our smiles would literally froze wishing that the photographer could quickly click for the shutter to move haha.


Requires some skills to capture the long signboard wor


Equal no. of guys and gals



Double degree in business and engineering hahaha (i wish!)


Part 2 on 9 July 07
Collection of Cert and Transcript

Yes i'm back to take pictures with the signboard again haha. This time round, with proper attire and a different group of people - the Cambodia gang.


Me and the signboard!


This is my first time to be up on the ADM building. Totally loves the grass so much that I can just roll on it!!! Wee!!! =D


Getting so comfy on the grass



Free stylers




Gee, we are all so cutey haha



I love to look at them in this manner




Feels really good to be on grass



Part 3 on 24 July 07
Actual Convocation Ceremony

I never knew convocation could last one whole day haha! Was practically stuck in NTU from 910am till 5 plus in the evening! Many thanks to the well wishes, thoughts, gifts and presence from you guys... definitely brightens up my day! =D Sorry for all who has waited for me coz i have been running about... and apologies goes out to those who have to be my photographers and nanny who has to look after my bags. I really appreciate one and all who have participated in this hectic day haha! Thank you so much!!!

Reached NTU around 910am... which was kind of late considering that I havent put on my gown, motar board and registration. In addition, my bro couldn't get the extra tix so he had to sit outside the Coffee Club Express to rot. Since there wasnt much time to spare, everything was like a rush for me, and it didnt help that announcements of graduands to be seated kept repeating like last warnings!

Found my place in the auditorium and settled down quickly, chatting with the gal beside me. Think I was kinda relax throughout the ceremony as the stranger beside me was tellin me how nervous she felt and she was afraid that she might tripped on the stage. I guess this convocation ceremony isnt very important to me so I didnt felt the stress and pressure of looking good haha. I just treat this as a gathering with my friends to take pictures heehee.

So it was my turn to be on stage. I watched where I had to stand, for i'm worried that I might get too excited to walk all the way up the stage before my name is being called haha. Upon hearing my name, I walked up and looked at the president in his eyes for few seconds, became shy (haha!) and looked away. Dont ask me why I felt shy suddenly hahaha... for I have no clue either! Shook his hands, smile into the camera, him saying congratulations to me and me saying thank you in return, took the folder and continue walking pass the stage with my two hands holding the folder like I'm a waitress carrying a plate! Afterwhich I decided to swiftly hold it in one hand.... and I was telling myself to enjoy the process of being on the stage since I have waited so many hours for it haha! So the 'harry potter' show has ended and its time for photo taking!


My family


Dad and I



Me and Mum... My mum likes this pic haha



When its my Bro and I taking pics tog, we never seem to have any decent shots haha. Always ended up doing wacky poses till my parents shake their heads


The gal whom I sat beside in the auditorium


From NYJC to NTU HRC


I really think NTU is very thoughtful to have this mini stage near the reception. Its a good place for all graduands to take pictures together, and this picture consists of graduands from the specialisation of Human Resource Consulting



My JC gang... Another thoughful gesture by NTU... balloon as decoration with HRC imprinted on it


My HRC friends

Part 4 of 24 July 07 shall be continued when I receive pics from Suhui haha! Again, thanks to all who has made my day! =D

21 July 07
在雨中

走到一半， 突然下起雨来。
没雨伞， 快跑！
跑着， 发现自己其实都被淋湿了。
那就潇洒一点， 走吧。

---------------------------
感冒了
早知道就在雨中跳舞好了。

13 July 07
What's in a Name?

The above question.

Today's Straits Times:
Lots, if the names fit people's jobs.

And came a strand of examples of pairing up of names and jobs altogether.

Stereotypes? Coincidence? True to some extent?

Compare and constrast it with the lines from Romeo and Juliet:
'What's in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.

Names are just meaningless labels we put on things.

13 July 07
Taiwan's friend MSN nick

人生不是学习得到， 而是学习经验。

How many times do we find ourselves counting the things that we have gained as the end result, compared to the things that we have gained through the process?

14 May 07
Gao Xiong
Qi Jin Island
Xin Jue Jiang
Cheng Shi Guang Lang
Ai He

Set off early to go to Qi Jin island for some cycling. As I dont know how to cycle, havta got a double seater bicycle so that Yingjie can took control of it while I was at the back reading the map heehee. As there were a few iconic areas on the map, we just followed the trail... So much like being explorers on the island heehee.


Xing Guang Sui Dao... glow in the dark astronomy horroscopes


Its indeed a very hot day... much hotter than Singapore


Cycled some more to see wind mills


Yingjie and I conquered a huge shell heehee


We parked our bicycles to get ourselves this shot. The uncles suddenly said that we must pay them money if we parked here. They sounded so serious which I thought it was real - and actually it was true coz after that I spotted a sign board that said so. Luckily they didnt really get money from us coz its just a five minute parking only.


Most comical video of the entire Taiwan trip goes to this waterfall haha. Oh, and there's rainbow too hee.




Since I dont have a license, must action action a bit heehee. I like the helmet, so cutie.


To sum up the Qi Jin island, I thought we were on an amazing race or something haha... cycling from one stop to another for some photo taking before embarking on for more cycling. It could have been better if i'm in tee shirt and shorts, but I guess I shouldn't complain much coz Yingjie has been the one controlling the bicycle while I'm merely figuring how to read maps at the back most of the time heh. Anyway, it felt good to be adventuours once in a while hee. Went for lunch and had tou hua for desserts hee.





Xi Zi Wan - good for walks if it aint that hot


Outside Zhong Shan Da Xue while waiting for cabbie

Took a cab to Xin Jue Jiang for some food and shopping. Didnt stay in Xin Jue Jiang for too long as we were rushing off to find the store that sells Da Gou Bing (we call it beat the dog biscuit hee). However, as night falls we realise that we wouldnt be in time to purchase it so just ended up strolling along Ai He.




Jun Pei and I with our Mister Donut! They taste really different from Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme.


Cheng Shi Guang Lang - quite similar to our Clarke Quake area


Ai He - This doggie is so guai that I told the gals if we are in Singapore now I would have adopted the doggie! This doggie simply followed us from Cheng Shi Guang Lang to Ai He... which was at least 30 minutes I reckon. Whenever we stopped to ask for directions he would stopped too, so much so that a lot of people mistaken the doggie as ours! From crossing the traffic lights to the bridge to the pavements... Alas the doggie was tired from all the walking... he took a nap and we all left quietly =(


Back to the hostel where I went to their Fu Li She to grab a can of Taiwan beer to try out of curiousity. Their Fu Li She looks very much like the Nanyang Supermart in NTU. Anyway from my expression you can tell lah haha.

13 May 07
White Water Rafting
Gao Xiong

The much anticipated day has arrived - white water rafting hohoho! The thrills of the rapids back in the states had made me love this water sport, so I just had to give it a go in Hua Lien.


Didnt bring a pair of shoes with me so I had to buy it over there. Like market like that!


I think we all look rather cutie in this outfit haha! So action packed eh? keke



Turned out that May isnt exactly a good period for rafting due to the lack of water level and rapids. As it would be way too tiring to raft throughout the journey, they have speed boats to push our raft along heehee. Most of the time we weren't really rafting, its more of like playing water and attacking the opponents' rafts haha. On our raft were three Taiwanese and it turned out that this were their first time driving over to Hua Lien for rafting heh.

Chatted with the Taiwanese guy in front of me and turned out that he was a chef wor keke. Luckily our raft had two guys because sometimes they had to get out of the raft to push it along whenever we got stuck in between the rocks or something. And its not that I belittled gals power or something... but because it really need a lot of strength to get the raft going. I'm speaking from experience okie, coz halfway through I decided to help by coming out of the raft to push it going. The moment I stepped out from the raft, I lost my balance and sort of fall. Stupid me kept clinging onto the raft for I feared that if I let go, I wont be able to catch up and back in it again. Due to my clinging, my knees rubbed against the stones or whatever objects thats in the water and ouch! It was bleeding -_-"""" So instead of trying to help the group, the dudes had to help me back into the raft instead. Talked about recovering from my illness and now getting myself hurt again tsk tsk!

Anyway there was a rest point for us to had lunch before continuing to exert our energy to attack the opponents' rafts heehee. In a whole kinda disappointed with the lack of rapids, and worse still the scenery couldn't make up for it. Nevertheless I think we all have fun playing water haha.


The survivors!


Next Hua Lien uncle drove us to some scenic area to embrace the nature.


What a view with our towels?! Hahaha...



The fishing net aint ours.







Nice Uncle who gave me dried fish to eat

After all the photo taking its time for us to retreat back to homestay to get our luggages to set off to Gao Xiong. (So many 'to's in that sentence haha!)


Home stay. I had one big bed to myself that night hohoho


Hua Lien uncle bought us dumplings! So nice of him wor =D By the way we had Mei Er Mei sandwiches for breakfast too! Yeah its really good!

Another long ride from Hua Lien to Gao Xiong. Halfway through the train ride met a nice Taiwanese guy who kept peeping at the rest of the gals gambling haha. He is a nice dude coz he offered to help me carry the luggage down the train okie? Haha. And I remembered how Yingjie was so addicted to gambling that my hands literally became a table for them to cast their cards man haha.

Took a cab to get ourselves in Zhong Shan Da Xue hostel. Bad experience with the cabbies in Gao Xiong.. think they were too commercialised liao. And they just act as if they knew the way when actually they dont. Okie not all cabbies behaved that way but some certain were! Ended up we had to walked so far and climbed slopes with our already too heavy luggages to get to the right hostel. And yes the luggage wheels came off again so you can imagining me panting all the way man.

12 May 07
Hua Lien
Taroko

Managed to catch about two hours plus of sleep before rushing to check out of the hotel. Last met up with Panny for breakfast before heading off to the train station in a hurry. She wanted to ta bao some Mei Er Mei sandwiches for us, saying that its authentic Taiwanese breakfast and is a must-try over here. Sad to say there isnt any Mei Er Mei stall around Xi Men Ding area, so we settled with some other food instead. Just hastily finished the breakfast, half run half walk to find the train gate before I turned to bid goodbye with Panny and the dudes. Luckily everything is so action packed, else it will be harder to say goodbye.

I kinda felt a bit lonely without the dudes accompanying us for the remaining journey. Although they have been strangers to me seven days ago, I'm glad that we kicked off pretty well in Taipei. Left with five gals on this journey also transform me to be in auto alert mode - have to be more careful and need to recognise directions better heh.

As this was our first time on train, we were kinda puzzled as to why our seats were taken when we boarded it. Figured that the passengers who took our seats were old folks, we decided not to pursue the matter further. Had it been strong youngsters who took our seats, we would confront them coz its not easy to sacrifice our beauty sleep to go to the train station at 4.15am to get the tix ya know?

Luckily half way through the old folks alighted and we were able to claim back our seats... else our poor feet would be complaining heh. Finally reached Hua Lien and called the Hua Lien uncle, who told us to come out from the front gate. There were two gates in the train station, one called the front gate and the other of course, called the back gate. Not knowing which gate was the front and which was the back, we just came out from any gate that looked like a gate. Alas we got it wrong and had to detour back! It was not an easy feat to carry my luggage to walk around ya know, simple reason being that the wheels had fallen off and I cant wheel it! Arrgh...

Hua Lien uncle drove us to homestay to throw our luggages, followed by bringing us to try Bian Shi - a kind of food that looks like dumpling. Initially he ordered one bowl for each of us, where we had politely refused because its too huge a serving! Just two bowls for all five of us to share will do heehee.

A long drive up the Taroko where I thought we would be rewarded with some awesome views. Kinda disappointed... probably coz I have heard so much stories about how beautiful Taroko is, and sub consciously I'm comparing it with the parks in the states. I guess they are beautiful in their own ways, which I havent truly find the way to appreciate Taroko. Nevertheless its the great company that counts hee.


Hua Lien uncle said this is a must take scenery before embarking the journey


Casual


Me and Mei Xuan


Just had to dip my legs in the water and sit on the stone to relax haha! I enjoy such simple pleasures in life hee.


Jun Pei and Yingjie on the rocks


Err... Suhui acting as ????


Mei Xuan likes this 'bridge'


Yeah I cant even recall I took this shot!


Uncle told us that we'll be able to see waterfall further down the drive. Okok patiently we waited... never did we imagine that the waterfall is soooooo puny hahahah!

As the sky turned dark, its about time that we leave Taroko to go to a beach. Nothing much to see coz its too dark already. Next we proceeded for our dinner at a night market. Although its just a touch-and-go kinda feeling in Taroko, it still felt great to be away from the heavily polluted night markets heh. Breathing in the fresh air makes me feel alive and kicking hahaha.

The night market in Hua Lien is super duper small compared to those in Taipei. The size of it can be comparable with the pasamalam that we had back home. Also bought some mua chee to bring back home hehe. Since we were only going to stay over in Hua Lien for a night, we ventured to other shopping areas as well.

11 July 07

My All

"My All" is built around a Latin guitar, Latin chord, and also makes subtle use of Latin percussion in the first chorus, before taking on a more conventional contemporary R&B - styled beat. Its protagonist declares she would give "her all" to have just one more night with her estranged lover.

- M. Carey - W. Afanasieff -

Ooooooh

Mmmh

I am thinking of you

In my sleepless solitude tonight

If it's wrong to love you

Then my heart just won't let me be right

'Cause I've drowned in you

And I won't pull through

Without you by my side

I'd give my all to have

Just one more night with you

I'd risk my life to feel

Your body next to mine

'cause I can't go on

Living in the memory of our song

I'd give my all for your love tonight

Baby can you feel me

Imagining I'm looking in your eyes

I can see you clearly

Vividly emblazoned in my mind

And yet you're so far

Like a distant star

I'm wishing on tonight

I'd give my all to have

Just one more night with you

I'd risk my life to feel

Your body next to mine

'Cause I can't go on

Living in the memory of our song

I'd give my all for your love tonight

[guitar break]

I'd give my all to have

Just one more night with you

I'd risk my life to feel

Your body next to mine

'Cause I can't go on

Living in the memory of our song

I'd give my all for your love tonight

(I'd) give my all for your love

Tonight

The MV, shot entirely in black and white and on location in Puerto Rico, was one of the last music videos directed by fashion photographer Herb Ritts before he passed away. It begins with Carey lying on an overturned rowboat in the ocean and progresses to her exploring the beach past flowers and a beam from the beach's lighthouse. The images of her lying in the shell and in front of the flowers were inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus. The video climaxes to a scene where Carey and her lover make love, but then ends with her alone.

Beautiful black and white MV

(Thanks to Youtube and Wikipedia)

11 July 07
"Without Bridges, we would all be islands."

This has been my msn nick for the longest time that I can ever remember.

I dont know the actual meaning behind it. But my own interpretation is that if we are all islands in the first place, we are all alone. Its only when there is a bridge that can link me to you... the bridge is sort of like communication... communication will link the two islands together.

This is also my first time hearing people commenting about it.

Vinclone has additional three verses to it.

Vinclone:
"Without bridges, we would all be islands.
With these bridges, we are still islands.
However connected above the common sea,
in the end islands shall be islands."

Henry:
Heard rumours that without bridges, we'd all be islands.
but den if we're not islands in the first place, why den would we need bridges ley?

Shall not comment much over here... let your thoughts wonder. I guess there's no right or wrong answer to the bridge and islands thingie... its just your way of interpretation... nobody could say its wrong, right? well somebody could say its right though =)

5 July 07
Commencement for my Dear NUS Friends

5am: Just manage to hit the bed after clearing up the silent explosion of A&W can in my cupboard.... Zzzzz so much work!

615am: Alarm rang. Cant seem to wakie.

730am: I want to roll some more. Please...

810am: Chum! I'm going to be late!!!

825am: Get myself out of my house in the fastest speed that I can hold in my sub conscious state.

835am: Reach AMK interchange.

840am: Shocked to see Lijun wearing so formal when she informed me that she would be just wearing jeans, so I decided to dress down too haha. Share a cab with Kallis, Xiu Rong and Lijun to head down to NUS UCC (University Cultural Centre, if i didnt remember wrongly)

915am: Reach NUS. Late coz we were supposed to doll Suhui up. Started our make up strategy on her, some hair beauty, adjustments of motar board and gown etc.

940am: Ready to be seated. Phew! Finally all the madness has subsided for the time being. However, still need to open my eyes big big to catch when's the three stars going to be on stage. Luckily Soon Fatt has good eye sight. He can easily spot where they were sitting while I was like still where??? There? Eh? Dont have leh cant see. So he became a live reporter of when were their turns on stage etc while I grabbed my camera to be on stand by mode.

Their commencement was shorter than our convocation. Not sure whether is it my illusion or something, I thought their UCC was smaller than our NY Audit. Anyway, am glad that the ceremony has ended fast without me dozing off heehee.

Next up was photo taking session haha! Really so much like taking bridal photos lor hahaha!!!

Suhui (the 'bride') was so popular, taking pictures with her fellow NUS friends and different groups of friends such as the SRJC gang, the MFSS gang, Taiwan gang, zapalang gang etc. I jokingly called for NYJC and TPS gang but no cameras were seen clicking coz Lijun and I aint the stars today haha.

Took the indoor shots with the fake flowers, on the staircase leading to dont know where in level 2, some random shots here and there before Suhui decided to venture into the outdoor shoots haha. So we had two statutes outside and some grass patches for you to lie on, like some literally professional outdoor bridal shoots haha. Of coz in between we helped ourselves to the buffet. Very small plate that they had which I was trying soooo hard to arrange the food properly so that all can be squeezed in, albeit with some food poking out here and there haha. Cant blame me for being greedy coz i havent eaten anything since the morning and the siew mai were zapped up sooooo fast!

Stoned and waited for Vincent to arrive. He was supposed to arrive at 2pm but no news from him. Waited till 225pm before sensing that something was wrong... coz he was to be seated by 240pm. Called him to find out that there is no reception in UCC!!! Yes totally zero (read again: 0) reception!!! With so many graduands, Suhui and I were like walking from one end to another trying our luck to catch a Mr Zhou Xing Ci look a like. Alas we caught him hiding in a corner, trying hard to get himself dressed up properly haha. Came his other two friends, Vincent Pang and King. King was super funny lah... let the picture do the talking.


NUS Start of Commencement


I'm so happy and proud of you Mr Chen Junming




Yes and you too Mr Tan Jin Xin






And my dear 'bride' Suhui





Taiwan Gang


King wearing NTU convo gown appearing in NUS commencement hahahaa!

Anyway to sum up the NUS commencement, I feel really really happy and proud of all my friends! The happiness is something that is very hard to explain in words... It has been a long long time ever since I experience such strong emotions... so overwhelming for me! Of course not to the extent of crying, but the emotions within me is making me feel soooooooo.... unexplanable! Just super duper happy for all of them!!! =D